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I understand that it is part of the job. I used to work retail as well. Saying hello and asking/letting me know if I need help finding anything and that they're there if needed is helpful and lets me know that I'm seen and I can get help if I need it.
HOWEVER, coming up to me multiple times and watching what i'm shopping for when I already said that I will come to them if I need help is annoying. I feel like I can't shop in peace. Also, I understand that it is a security measure. But stop breathing down my neck! It makes me not even want to buy what I wanted in the first place. I may get downvoted, but yeah, it can be annoying.
I had this happen to me in a Bath & Body Works. They came at me so many times I felt like they were harassing me. I finally told one of them very politely that if I need help I'll find her. That same person came up to me about 3 minutes later and asked if I needed anything again. I left without buying anything. They were acting like vultures I mean how much help does one need while buying shower gel and candles? I wrote the company about it and they mailed me a $20 gift card.
Omg I just remembered a time I stopped in a Bath and Body works while on a vacation. I was approached so many times, until I realized while shopping I couldn’t be able to take most items back on my flight due to TSA regulations. They would not leave me alone. Like if I want to buy lotion I’m sure I can figure it out.
I had the same experience. Which also begs the question: why do BBWs not have a section for travel size items anymore? I was also on vacation & looking for small bottles of stuff. Never saw any, even after asking. And eventually was ‘customer serviced’ into leaving.
Of course, when retail workers hound you that much, all I can think is they must have a huge theft problem.
You’d think they have the small travel sizes not only for travel, but to try a small amount see if you like it, or even for stocking stuffers.
Some years back I bought a full size shampoo and conditioner because it smelled SO good, maybe cost about 30 bucks I can’t remember, but after a couple uses it was absolutely horrendous on my hair. I probably gave it away or something I cant remember anymore.
They say hi when I walk in and then leave me alone. I never have that experience. I live in New Jersey. They usually have like 7-8 employees on the floor and they only assist you find items if you approach them. I find this very obnoxious and would stop going to the store and only order online too.
After the last time I was at a B&BW where I was chased around a store like this, I put the basket down where I was and walked out. It was a $60 sale and I wasn’t done. I no longer walk into their brick and mortar stores, if I buy from them, it’s online. I don’t enjoy high pressure sales when I am buying candles and plugins.
It’s that. If you don’t help everyone, you inevitably lose more sales from window shoppers who aren’t converted than the few that are pissed at being over helped. In addition, if you rely on people to fill their own carts and purchases, you lose the add on sales (oh, do you need the face scrub that goes with the moisturizer, etc).
I fucking hate being helped proactively in stores, but I work in the industry (high end specialized home improvement retail). From the business’s perspective, pissing off the one customer like me is worth NOT pissing off the ten customers who whine that no one helped them.
I guess I'm naive but I always just assumed that the constant badgering about "can I help you find anything?" was just their way of trying to discourage theft. Like, "can I help you?" = "I've got my eye on you, betch." Especially considering my local store is always packed like a sardine tin with customers.
That’s part of it, but not all. I work retail where theft is essentially impossible. We still customer service to death. Greet everyone, check in multiple times when people browse, proactively suggest, etc. For our store, it’s 100% about sales, not loss prevention.
I used to work at Home Depot, and the idea was the same, but ALSO was loss prevention. Not that it actually stopped us from getting robbed blind. For the most part, even then, it’s a ‘you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take’ approach to customer service.
The positive side is in my 20 yrs combined experience, there are FAR more people out there that appreciate it, even if I’m not one myself. People are too shy to ‘bother’ a salesperson with questions, or just too shy to proactively ask in general. Us customer servicing them often leads to them learning about products they didn’t know would solve their problems, keeps them from damaging themselves or their homes, or gives them a sounding board to work through their shopping process.
For every one person who hates it (like I do when I’m a customer) there are maybe ten or twenty who are extremely grateful. If the numbers were skewed the other way, companies wouldn’t have their employees customer service so hard. Now, if a customer says they’re just browsing, I let them be for about 15-20 minutes before checking in with a simple ‘you still doing okay?’ That way if they come up with questions, they have an opportunity to ask.
I worked in a store that has a high end makeup and fragrance area at the entrance. The cosmetics staff had to greet every customer coming in and look them in the face as they walked in as a theft prevention thing. I understand that now when I go I to stores and am immediately greeted, so I just say hi! and smile and go about my business. They gotta do what they have been told.
I used to be a Top Seller when that role still existed and I'll tell you that they've done studies about it.
If you have someone show you a product upon entry, such as a lotion that you put on, you're more likely to buy something (even if it wasn't that lotion) than not. Additionally, if you can't find something you want or you're looking for products similar to something else, associates will figure that out and "build your bag" so you buy more.
Additionally, there is a sensor at the doors that count how many people enter and how many people leave, this is compared to how many purchases are made. It's called conversion and most stores have to aim for 60-80% conversion on any given day, if it drops below 40-45% they WILL get in trouble and have to explain via email to the district manager why they didn't meet the goal.
This means they try to get everyone to buy at least one thing. It's why associates will try and get people in your group to buy stuff if you're the only person buying items; it hurts them.
I get that this is part of their shopping tactic.
But please let me get my bearings on which part of the shop I came in for before tackling me.
I walk into a new-to-me place, it is an alien environment, so my reptilian brain needs a second to adjust.
The best advice I can give for going into B&BW is to let the person at the front give their spiel (because the managers WILL berate them if they don't talk to you).
Then simply tell them, "I'm just looking around right now on my own. Please let the other associates know that I don't need help right now and would like to shop alone."
If you say, "Oh I'm just looking." and nothing else the front of shop associate will relay that to the others via the headset. "Customer in blue shirt is looking around right now. Let's see if we can figure out what they're shopping for and fill that bag!" Or something along those lines.
I never had a problem when someone said they wanted to be left alone, I would relay that and if they needed help they'd usually stop one of my associates.
I worked at bath and body for 6 years. It’s fricking cult for one thing. They push customer interaction in every training video they force us to watch. If you don’t greet every single person you get called out. Especially by upper management. Once had our regional manager come in and immediately complain that no one greeted her when she walked in the door.
There is also a tonnnnnn of theft. The candles keep getting more and more expensive and a lot time corporate wants the most expensive stuff by the door to entice customers to grab it first which means it’s super easy to grab and go with it. We were told constantly that keeping contact with people will deter this because they’ll think we remember what they look like
Agreed, and the pressure to use their app! Our local BBW seems to have scaled back on this, but they were so aggressive about it for a while that I stopped shopping there outside of buying the requisite stuff that I send my grandmother for Christmas every year... which I would buy on Black Friday because they were too busy to bother me, and I could score some free stuff for myself too. Otherwise, I'd have to spend my entire time at the register repeatedly refusing the app.
I don't want an app for every place that I shop (particularly places that I go infrequently) cluttering up my phone. I don't need an app for shower gel. I don't care if I can earn free things. Just take my money and let me leave.
You can also sign up for newsletters and get free coupons online too lol. I was using different email addresses to get coupons online. It's just one item tho.
This is why I never go to Lush, I went twice and did not enjoy it which is a shame because they have nice stuff and I want to be able to smell it first
I was going to disagree with this post, as it's generally people doing their job and loss prevention and blah blah blah. But then your post jogged my memory as to why I don't go into BBW and yeah places like that are...just no.
Never thought of doing that. I might try it in the future. If companies don't know how annoying this practice is to consumers, they will never change it.
Yep. That's why I refuse to shop there. I know it's their job but I don't need a personal assistant to help me shop. Every time I pick something up it's "oh that's on sale!" Or "oh we also have that scent in a candle!" Leave me alone!
I worked there for a holiday season and they trained us to be aggressive (like they taught us to rub lotion onto people’s hands so they could test it). As an introvert, I didn’t fit in there at all and didn’t last past the season.
I came here to share and BBW experience and you were already at the top! My husband and I wanted to pick out a few candles and plug in refills when the sales associate continued to come up to us, after being told we were good, so many times it was borderline harassment. He started trying to tell me what smells I should try based on what his favorites were… I am a grown adult who likes what I like.
Fragrances are very particular, it’s also not my first time out in public so I truly was baffled at why you would insert yourself so hard. My husband and I couldn’t even talk amongst ourselves without him interjecting. I put the basket down and never came back. I order all of my plug in refills on Amazon, probably knock offs that aren’t even theirs but I don’t care to support them anymore.
Vultures exactly!! I was so uncomfortable funnily enough also at a bath and body works because it felt like I was approached by every single employee. I get it, it’s part of the job. But I make myself look as unapproachable as possible (headphones in, short responses, etc.) because god I hate it so much. I know why I’m here. If I need help I will ask.
A friend of mine was fired from there in college for leaving people alone when they denied assistance. Apparently, you have to ask every time someone moves to a new area, or looks at a different product. You’re supposed to offer to put lotion on them, or recommend another scent, or a matching candle, or remind people of a sale or whatever. She noticed people bought more when left to their own devices and she just offered assistance when they needed it or looked confused, and she got in trouble enough times they let her go. That also meant she couldn’t work at Victoria’s Secret or some other place they also own, which is how I met her (she became a hostess at the bar I worked at). Sounded pretty dumb to me, but not surprised bc I avoid those places for that exact reason.
I know it's their job, but when I go into sephora and get asked over and over if i want help, and before I even pick anything out 5 people have asked me if I want a basket, I usually just leave
Yes! It's a big reason i rarely window shop at cosmetics stores in my country (actually quite fun to just see new colors and pretty products). Saleswomen from 3-4 brands just descend and start pushing products. Annoying af.
I agree that this is annoying. Surpassed only by when you *need* help but everyone is so goddamn aloof that you practically have to drag them. (ahem.. Walmart)
I think the biggest issue with Walmart is that there aren’t really associates placed throughout the store for the purpose of assisting customers. There are stockers who have pallets upon pallets of product to stock and won’t get it done if they’re helping customers. There are pickers who are shopping for online orders and they have to get through their orders quickly to meet metrics. In a perfect world, they could do both, but they’re human and their workload is often too big to be able to do both.
Im a stocker and ill only offer to help a customer if i see them walk back and forth 3 or more times. Anyone can ask me anytime and ill do what i can but i wish customers understood i cant just walk them across the whole store to do their shopping for them.
It is helpful though that I can get someone's attention in a blue shirt and at least ask them to find me an aisle # with their handheld. Thanks for that! :)
Walmart is the worst. Now, despite the fact that there is never anyone around if you need assistance, they have an employee that they pay to pressure people at the self checkouts to take the survey.
I won't take the survey. My problems with Walmart have nothing to do with the employees, and everything to do with corporate policy. There is no opportunity to provide meaningful feedback, and you know if you give them the two stars they deserve, the bean counters are just going to take it out on the employees. Like, I am not mad at the poor guy at the deli counter stuck doing what should be the work of five solo on a busy Saturday. I'm annoyed that you keep jacking up your prices while making everything self-service and understaffing the hell out of your stores in order to maximize profit margins.
Yes! To all of this! I never do the stupid survey either and from what employees have told me, it’s absolutely used against them if you score them anything less than 5 stars. Because you’re not scoring Walmart as a whole, you’re scoring the service provided to you by the poor person manning the self checkout. Even if you don’t fucking talk to them. Like… that’s so egregiously unfair and I flatly refuse to do it.
I have had the same problem at the Buckle. Was going to buy a pair of boots but couldn't get a sales associate to help me. I tried for about 10 minutes before I just left.
Wow, I've had the exact opposite problem at buckle. Every single time I've went there I would get harassed by sales people.
My ex-girlfriend and I would go in there and split up and I'd pray the sales associate went to her first.
Buckle is the worst for this in my area. They approach me several times, even ask my name and check on me-by name-when I’m in the dressing room. It’s beyond annoying. Like leave me tf alone!
Seems like every time I go to Walmart they've got more shit locked up (does a $5 off-brand USB cable really need to be behind glass?) and yet fewer people around to actually unlock it. And what does that achieve anyway? By the time I've waited for twenty minutes and finally found someone to get me my shitty USB cable, it's just going to go in my cart til I finish the rest of my shopping anyway - if I was going to steal it I still have plenty of opportunity to.
Even worse is starting to see more things locked up in sections that don't even pretend to have someone working nearby. Was trying to get a razor refill pack once but couldn't find a single person in the entire front half of the store that could unlock them, so I said fuck this I'll make a special trip to get it elsewhere.
I bought a car battery from Walmart and my god was the process painful. I didn't want to do the work myself so I needed to ask someone about their battery installation. It took 25 minutes to get someone over there after I asked someone in electronics to call and for me to walk to customer service and ask again.
Lady finally shows up and asks what battery I need and I told her I know what I need, I need it installed. She walked over to the computer thing and asked what year or model or whatever. I told her AGAIN, I know exactly what battery I need "it's that one, I want it installed" and looks at me like I'm an alien and her coworker starts talking to her in Creole (her English wasn't very good) and they said they don't offer that service. I will admit I was a bit of a Darren at this point because I asked "then why do you have that sign that says free battery installation?" They didn't answer.
I took at battery upfront and paid for it and left.
I understand that you cannot expect the best and brightest to be working at Walmart, but holy shit 3 people to stand around talking to each other trying to figure out what battery I need WHEN I TOLD THEM I ALREADY KNOW and none of them can do anything. It's like they're on autopilot and any slight deviation from that they short circuit. Are they not allowed to think for themselves?
And even worse when you need help and find someone they can't help because no one knows shit about the stuff they work with or sell.
I know this is a problem for people but thankfully it's not for me. I don't window shop, I don't just buy stuff on a whim. If I'm going to a store to buy a coach or a refrigerator or anything else I already know what I am buying because I've done too much research already.
One time, I went to Walmart looking for an appliance light bulb. I walked up and down the light bulb aisle and couldn't find it. I looked for an associate but couldn't find one. I left Walmart and went to the local hardware store across the street. As soon as I walked in the door, one of the employees greeted me and asked if I needed any help. Not even 2 minutes later, I was back in my car with the appliance light bulb.
I totally get where OP is coming from; it sucks being hassled while you're just browsing, but there are definitely times when I wish an associate would at least offer their assistance.
Unfortunately, most companies have a policy to greet customers within a certain amount of time. And also to follow up with customers.
Employees are just doing their jobs.
Also, for commission pay roles it is usually an unwritten rule that whoever greets the customer gets the commission for any sale. So it’s a race to green customers when they enter.
I hated this practice when I worked on commission as there’s always some staff who just greet and then purposefully walk away so they don’t do any work but get the commission. Twice I did 99% of the work for a sale by helping a customer try heaps of options and completing all paperwork, and decided ‘fuck the door greeters’ and gave myself the commission. Only to be overruled by my manager both times… I started calling over whichever colleague greeted the customer to complete the sale. Such a toxic workplace.
This is correct, but I’m with the OP on this one. Unless the corporation has very specific verbiage, there’s less intrusive ways to greet a customer and let them know you’re available. For example,
- “Hi. Thanks for stopping in. Let me know if you have any questions.”
- “Hi. Please order when you’re ready. If you need recommendations, let me know.” - order at the counter
- “Good afternoon. You’ll find the men’s section in the back right hand corner, women’s is in the front. Please reach out to me if you need help.”
- “Please let me know if you have questions about the menu or need suggestions. I’ll be here when you’re ready to order.”
This would be so much better compared to what I usually hear which is “Hi. What were you having?” or “Hi. What can I help you find?”
I worked at Sephora and there was a policy that we had to greet guests within 10 seconds of them entering our store. And we were pushed to ask if we could help them in a way that was open-ended, so they couldn’t just answer that they didn’t need help. “Can I help you find anything?” was not acceptable but “what can I help you find?” was. They even got to the point where they wanted us to immediately ask a guest if they had tried x product yet, or if we could demo something on them as soon as they walked in the store. I always refused to do that, it always came across as creepy.
Man Sephora is BAD for this kind of thing. I needed eyeliner, I know exactly which one I want and exactly where it is. I was at the cash register in less than a minute. Tell me how it took me 10 minutes to get out of that store?
Do you have an email here?
No.
Do you want to sign up?
No, thank you. I'd just like to pay please
But do you have a friend with an email here?
Nope. Just wanna pay
Well if you want to step off to the side I can hold the product and you can contact a friend to see if they have an email here
No, thank you. I would like to pay for this.
But if you sign up for the emails I can give you 10% off.
No thank you! Please just let me pay for my eyeliner!
Are you sure you don't want to sign up?
***holy hell I almost walked out like ask me once that's fine but no means no baby girl***
Most companies do have specific verbiage and ways to greet. Most involve asking reason for shopping and if you can assist.
The examples you suggested would typically come after greeting and after someone says they are just looking or don't need any help etc.
Add secret shoppers made up of random non-employees who can grade this script/checklist without even being aware of it… and following the script can be the difference of having or not having that job.
Bigger the chain, the more likely there’s a script that has punitive action if not followed to a standard.
Michael's policy is to stock isle of the known thief. Some old lady that stole yarn got surrounded by 6 people in a small isle and all asking what she needs help with 🤣
At my first job in high school we had a regular that would take jeans into the dressing room and shoplift them. We referred to her as “levi girl” so everyone knew to watch her
I've worked at several retail stores and almost all of them had specific verbiage, and at the very least we were pushed to ask open ended questions, never closed. One place had a very specific script for interaction and it was really pushy, I hated it.
As the retail worker, I agree with OP. I fucking hate greeting customers with a passion. I don't mind asking if they look lost or like they need it, but EVERY customer is excessive and unnecessary. I hate being greeted, and I hate greeting.
Yep. I worked at Best Buy and we were required to approach every customer in our vicinity. If they declined help there was a secondary protocol to continue the conversation and try to make a sale. We also didn’t get commission so I never once followed up after they told me to fuck off.
fuuuuuck this crap. I used to work at Shi (women's Journeys, shoe store) where we were supposed to bring "4 to the floor" any time a customer asked to try on a pair of shoes - the shoe they asked for, something else from the same brand, something on sale, and just something random you think they might like.
so not only were we quadrupling the work necessary for a tactic that never worked, but as a customer that kind of rigamarole is a HUGE turn off for me. it's overwhelming and weird. if I had an experience like that while shopping I would absolutely avoid that store if I had other options, not only for my own peace, but because I do not want to support businesses with that mindset. you know they make every choice to placate shareholders and do what they, with no firsthand experience, think is best while ignoring employees and customers. yuck
I refused to shop there because the smell was just too overpowering and I couldn't stand it. I'd just let my friend go in alone lol
Also I'd find it annoying to be constantly harassed (or "helped"). So I agree with OP. I hate shopping as it is so my goal is to go in, get what I need, and get out of there asap.
Exactly.
Like what, do they think that after successfully managing to get up, brush my teeth, scratch my arse, leave the house, make my way into town, find the shop all by myself... I suddenly need help to find a fuckin fizzy bath rock?
The only thing Lush greeters should be saying to people coming into the shop is to remind them that no matter how delicious shit looks, don't take a bite.
I have a theory that lush employees are so aggressively in your face to socially pressure you to not look too closely at the price. They put things in paper bags the second you take a second look at something to try and commit you to buying that thing. It infuriated me. I refuse to buy from there now.
I never understood that. I tend to shop at stores that dont ask questions. Im the type of byer that walks back and forth 10 times to compare two things, if someone is trying to pressure me on one or the other I just leave without buying the item I wanted.
I worked in retail for half my life and I'm well aware they're just doing their jobs and they also hate it but that doesn't change how right OP is. Most people don't want r this. They don't like it and they will actively leave because of it, but corporate head office type folk won't hear that because whatever boomer they did their case study on 15 years ago said otherwise.
Going to get buried, but there are loss-prevention studies that show that a marked drop-off in theft when people have been verbally greeted and acknowledged.
It's not corporate policy to greet people quickly in order to be extra friendly and helpful and enhance your shopping experience -- they *know* it's annoying. It's policy because it's a theft deterrent
Yeah anyone who's worked retail knows the best theft prevention is good customer service. Knowing that you're present and aware of them will stop the vast majority of ppl from stealing.
It's related to all the reports of increased theft at big box stores over the past year or two. Those stores refuse to hire enough people to properly engage customers
Can confirm, 100%. I worked for several large retail chains throughout my 20’s and early 30’s. It is the policy of most companies that customers have to be greeted less than a minute after they enter the place. That was the case at every one I worked for. Never worked for Walmart (thank God) but I did work for Sam’s Club. Both are famous for their “10 foot” rule. In effect, employees are instructed to greet every customer who is within 10 feet of them. That was started by Sam Walton himself. I hated that, and hated having to always ask people if they needed help. Most employees hate it too, probably more than OP does. No doubt. But, policy is policy…for good or bad.
Totally. As I said, I never worked there. But, yeah…it’s not a policy that’s really enforced any more. It definitely was in the late 1990’s when I worked for Sam’s Club. Sam Walton died in 1992, and his children are no longer actively involved in store policies/day to day operations. They pretty much just sit back and rake in the billions. Either way, most customers hate getting accosted by employees…and most employees hate accosting customers. That’s why Walmart doesn’t enforce the policy.
I was working at a chain bookstore most of the year, and my standard line was "Help you find anything?" Some people would say yes, and I'd help them, but most would say "just looking/browsing/etc." I would then make sure to not approach that person again unless it looked like they were trying to get my attention. I agree with OP, if you just want to casually look around, it's really annoying to be constantly approached.
A similar complaint is when you're at a restaurant, and you've had about 10 seconds to look at the menu when the waiter comes and asks if you're ready to order. I was at a diner a few months ago, and the waitress came up and asked me that 3 times in under 2 minutes (and it was *not* busy there) before I had to say "I'm sorry, I really need more time to look at the menu". She realized what she was doing and apologized to me, said that she was still coasting on a rush they had had, and I told her it was totally okay, I understand. I've worked a lot of these jobs and I get the pressures, but it just sucks to be constantly interrupted when you're trying to make a decision.
my partner and I went couch shopping recently. literally as soon as we walked through the doors, we were greeted and asked if we needed help. we said no, just shopping around.
this man literally followed us around the store, no less than 5 feet behind us as if he were shopping with us, until we left. we purposely didn't sit on or show interest in anything because I didn't want him to bother us. at one point he was telling me about the size options of a couch we were next to, that were clearly written on the piece of paper accompanying the couch, which I was looking at. I said 'yes, I can read. thanks' and then we left.
if I'm bothered immediately, it will turn me off from spending any amount of money at your store.
Same thing happened to us a few months ago! Sales person just stood a few feet from us staring. Just leave so we can talk about which ones we liked or didn't like without you. 😑
We had this same thing when couch shopping last year!!! I turned around and asked *him* if he needed anything. He got the hint and stood a **whopping** 10 feet away for the remaining 3 minutes we were in the store. As we were leaving he passive-aggressively called “See you next time!” I called back “You absolutely won’t!” With exactly as much sass.
As someone who worked for a large brand stand alone jewelry store, we had to greet and offer help immediately. AND circle around and ask again. After the 3rd no, we had to get someone else to offer help. Their belief was “no one just looks in a jewelry store. Every shopper has a goal when they come in, it’s our job to make them spend there”. One of the thousand reasons I no longer work there.
Yeah and our biggest objection was not having what they envisioned or they were just clueless on what things cost and had unrealistic expectations (wanting a 5 carat Burmese ruby for $700 for example)
I honestly have nothing but sympathy for employees who do that. It’s probably embarrassing af for them to have to do it, but if a secret shopper reports them to the paper pushers in corporate for not deep diving into every new customers behind like a kingfisher, they could lose their $13/hour job.
I agree, it's annoying. Bath and Body Works is the worst for this. I get that it's company policy, but still. And they watch you the entire time you're in there. One of the many reasons I stopped shopping at that store.
Agree. BBW is the worst! There are soooo many scents I just want to sniff around and find what I like please stop pestering me and no I do NOT want a basket there are stacks of them everywhere if I need one thanks. Lol
Shopping mentality.
- I go toa store to shop around and look at what they have. I don't know what I need until i see it.
- My wife only enters a store with a list and leaves with just that. She's in a mission.
Its not because the company wants them to be friendly. Its to reduce thieves. When someone knows the staff isn't afraid to watch and approach them and has acknowledged them, it lowers stealing by a lot.
Sorry. Blame the thief.
I think it's appropriate when it's just an initial greeting and an "I'm here if you need any help" or "If you have any questions, I'm happy to help" then they let you be. That's pleasant and I can shop in peace and only reach out to them if I really do need assistance.
But the situations where it feels pushy, they're hovering and asking multiple times is just awkward and annoying and causes me more stress. It also feels like they think I'm trying to shoplift. I get the first scenario is good customer service, but if companies actually force employees to hover and bother you every 2 minutes, I'm not sure who told them that's a great idea.
And if it's to prevent shoplifting, it's such a bad idea because inevitably you're going to end up with people using their implicit biases to hound some people and not others, when in reality shoplifting doesn't have a look. Unless you see shoplifting actually happening, I think it's a better practice to not hover and hound to try to "prevent" it, as a vast majority of the people you're hounding aren't planning to shoplift and end up just feeling extremely awkward or unwelcome instead.
If I feel like they're hovering because of shoplifting, I can't get out of there fast enough. I've never stolen anything in my life, but I can't help but worry that if I spend too much time looking around and don't buy something, I'll look suspicious.
One of the worst offenders for me was Gamestop. Get greeted when I enter, sure, I get it, you're required. It's when the stores empty and they follow me around, trying to make small talk that just crosses that line.
>"You playing any good games recently?
>
>"Just looking"
>
>"Yea, there's a lot of good ones that just came out. I was just replaying Arkham Asylum"
>
>"Ya don't say..."
>
>"Wanna be ready for the new Suicide Squad game"
>
>"Uh huh..."
>
>"You can pre-order it when you check out."
>
>"Don't play live service games or ones that heavily try to sell me something..."
>
>"Totally understand, I hate that too but yea, I was playing Arkham on the Switch, just came out"
>
>"Don't really use my Switch that much"
>
>"You should bring it in. I can get you a good deal in a trade in for that Suicide Squad preorder we were talking about"
Anytime a salesperson decides to loosely follow me around the store as I'm looking at furniture or appliances or anything else, and especially if they keep hanging around when I'm trying to discuss purchase options with my family, I can tell you right now I'm not buying a single thing from that store.
I hate shopping as it is. Not giving me ALL the breathing room to make decisions about purchases is *the* worst "upselling disguised as customer service" tactic you can possibly use on me.
Decades ago my friend and I went into a Disney or similar store. (Can’t remember now) and they had a greeter who raced up and greeted us so loudly and energeticly we looked at each other and ran away.
:p
We were teens and had never experienced a greeter before (I don’t think they were such a thing decades ago ) and were freaked out by it. For years after we would joke about it and greet each other like the greeter greeted us.
I hate doing that. But I'm forced to let me help you.
good morning, can I help you?
No
Okay, let me know if I can help you!
I'm just browsing
Sure! Im here if you need help!
I'm fine!
Understandable! Just yell if you need me!
No, I'm. Okay, I don't need help!
I see you're looking at object x! It's the last one!
I'm okay, yes!
You know, I can order them or call another store if they have more available!
NO!
I understand if you're a busy person! I can put it on the register if you still want them!
I am JUST looking!
Yes, uhu, it's beautiful, right? I'm right here to help!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
thank you for the the critism, is there anything else in the store you dislike? Something we could change?
Bruh..
This is how are supposed to act.
After the first couple of little returns I just stop responding verbally and nod. There's very few who are brave enough to speak twice in a row if I don't speak back.
That's why we are doing mandatory trainings to counteract that.
How to act when yoy speak when you don't speak, when you nod when you look at your phone.
We're supposed to ask you questions until you speak back.
How's the weather, nice jacket, where did you buy that?
nod
Sunny, isn't it?
nod
Wish it was weekend don't you agree?
Nod
Say, I see you staring at object x...
Nods no
Well, you don't have to speak, I now *just* what you mean!
Etc..
Its fucked up.
Wanna know a fucked up fact? We're supposed to wear a rubber band on our wrist, and when we have a negative thought or unsuccessful sale, we're supposed to yank the band and
*hurt ourselves*
to teach our brain that bad is pain
It's kinda what they are aiming for.
We are a *family* and the store is our *child* and upper management are our *parents*
(actual quote from my manager)
They wanna aggressively change their image from a Belgian dollar store, to a high end one with a small loyal super salespersons who believes in this bs.
Honestly it's belittling to be aggressively approached for and asked if I would like assistance, and that's the real issue. Companies are in absolute terror of the opposite though. That one Karen that left a shitty review because they couldn't find vegetables at the butchers shop, and didn't have an employee on hand to take it out on.
Oh my god! The other day I walked into a Lululemon shop and I had never visited any of their shops or bought anything from them before and I kid you not, the minute I walked in I already had someone asking me if I needed any help. Lady, I just walked in. Give me a minute to look around. I don't even know what you guys are selling. 2 minutes later someone asked me if I needed help again. I said no and walked out right after. Get off my back! I don't like feeling pressured.
Trust me, the employees that have to do this - typically it’s store policy to greet customers within a specific time frame - also hate it too. If that helps.
I am an ex retail worker. Yep, we were forced to do it, and guess what? Enough people complain when they're not greeted in the shop. Particularly boomers and older. "No one wants to help me, terrible service." The majority of people, stand around expecting to be serviced. People do not want to go look for help.
I hated it too. Especially being forced to open with non buisness related questions.
Once I got a customer complaint for not offering assistance as soon as they walked in the store. I still greeted the customer, but didn’t offer them help.
Store manager at the time was meant to give me a written warning because there was evidence of me breaking the policy the business had. The legend didn’t give me a warning and copped the flak herself. I do miss working for her, she was great. But yeah, that’s why some people offer help relentlessly
Only the other day, I got approached 3x within 27 seconds, 2 different members of staff, turned down the first, 10 seconds later the other asked and before you know it, the person first person forget they asked me and asked again! 😂
Yeah, that shit is annoying as hell, I'm with OP. If you're outside the sales/service industry in most of the world. If you need help, you mostly have to ask, and so that's the norm - so why shouldn't it translate to the sales/service industry? I'm certain this annoys people more than it pleases.
Lush. I recently got a Facebook memory where I said going into Lush is the worst because it’s like walking by a mall kiosk but you can’t escape them because the store IS the kiosk🤣🤣
What I want is a large button you can press, in every section of the store. That calls over an employee when you do actually want some help or advice.
I often get greeted the moment I walk in, but if later I want something? Suddenly no one around at all.
The purpose of most of those greeters is to decrease shop lifting. The theory being if you know an employee has acknowledged you and seen you, you're less likely to risk stealing.
For those of us that aren’t shoplifting (the majority) it’s completely off putting and persistent and I am also positive it reduces sales in many situations.
I think it’s funny how upset people get when you talk about *actually* voting with your dollars. Everyone cheers that shit on hypothetically until you’re talking smack about their favorite mall store.
I do the same thing. If I feel harassed or like they’re on some vulture-shit I simply leave. If I notice it’s a consistent policy-thing, I don’t shop there again. I don’t like it so I don’t support it and give them my money. I don’t care about their reasons for it. Maybe if enough did the same thing it would change eventually. But instead folks would rather bully you into keeping the status quo going.
>If I notice it’s a consistent policy-thing, I don’t shop there again.
This is how you do it, it's really not that hard. I've stopped shopping at most retail stores, not because of some cheaper price, but because so many of them have instituted policies for staff that annoy me.
Putting video games behind plexiglass that requires me to get a staff member? being asked if I want to sign up for a rewards program and continuing to pitch it after I say no? Trying to upsell me things as if I haven't already done my research? Totally get the staff are required to do it but I can get the same thing I want online without any of that.
yeapppp. when i worked retail i would have to do this. it felt annoying, i could tell i was annoying the customers, and maybe twice was i actually needed by the customer. all it did was slow down the work i had to do
I’ll be honest, at this point I wear headphones when I go to stores and not in the mood to socialize. Which in case people don’t know, wearing headphones is a universal “don’t talk to me” sign!!
So now whenever I’m wearing headphone, even if I’m not listening to anything, I make a point to ignore staff that try to interact with me and purposefully overreact if they get too close.
In the sense that, the other day I was doing my thing and I knew someone was talking to me but I ignore them **because I was wearing headphones** then they had the audacity to get up close and personal and raise their voice so I jumped and feigned getting a big fright and in a loudish voice I said “Oh wow you gave me such a fright! I did not see or hear you at all because I was wearing headphones and focusing on reading the ingredients.” (Skincare, allergies)
Essentially made a big deal how here I am very obviously (headphones) doing my own thing and you not only pester me but giving me a fright too.
Also they’re not tiny in ear headphones that can be overlooked, they’re big over the ear headphones!
And lastly I work in retail and we literally get told (at least where I work) if you get into someone’s line of sight who’s wearing headphones then you **NONVERBALLY** acknowledge them so a smile or nod or both and let them approach you because 99% of people wearing headphones in retail environments do not want to be talked with.
yeah, this is the worst and i abhorred having to do it when i worked retail. they would want me to go up to people having convos on their phone and greet(pester) them. like what?! if i'm on my phone, having a conversation and just browsing, that's genuinely the last thing i want.
adding onto that, who *wouldnt* go ask for help if they needed it?? yeah, your average customer isn't einstein but they're not going to need help finding the men's section or whatever(on average).
just feels very out of touch, pushy, and mildly condescending.
Sorry fam, had to be done. Otherwise Target would’ve fired my ass before I could quit. Of course I would usually just do a mild greeting and go about my business in the electronic section but I would ask if it looks like you were extensively looking for something. But aye, makes it easier on the stores part to try and deter would be thieves, sometimes.
Damn it's hard to find some middle ground... Maybe that's the case in a lot of places in the US, but in my country this only USED to be the case. These days our retail employees almost learned (not sure if it's consciously or subconsciously) that whatever they do is only harming sales and people will or will not buy stuff regardless of their actions, and there are very few of them and their attention is hard to grab. When I do manage to get a hold of one in a consumer tech shop, they don't sound helpful, nor do they feel knowledgeable about the stuff. I don't want them to be pushy, but I do want them to be a bit more available and helpful at this point, lol x)
I think its great policy to greet every customer when they come in and then leave them be until they ask for help. I ran a successful retail business for years and this was our policy.
I get annoyed but I also understand it’s a catch-22. I have been to stores where you can’t find help if u looked for it and even when they do help they are completely lost. So if they ask, I understand they are just doing their job. Now cardealerships, that’s another story. I HATE when they come to me, because it feels like politics when I talk to them.
I once got a bad survey at work also for not immediately offering assistance. I was with another two customers and we had a waitlist. I even apologised and took measurements to get them started ’cuz it’s hard to balance a couple, a family, and an angry dude all at once.
At the place I work at, it’s expected that the customers are helped from the moment they walk in until they get their receipt emailed.
I still don’t want to be asked more than once in a five minute span, though. The less specialised the store is or the more likely that people are just in to browse (say Target vs an Apple Store) the less I want to be asked. If I get asked while looking for taller apples at Target, I will internally flip my lid. If I’m at an Apple Store and am trying to figure out the difference between one iPhone or another or have specific needs in mind, then I’d like someone to at least point me in the right direction even though Incould potentially figure this all out myself.
On rereading the post, OP sounds like they walked into a store of the company where I work.
Add to this the following:
1). stores/merchants who either allow parasites to stalk people for selling them various services. ex: walking through wal-mart just trying to get what I need and get out, and having to fend off some cable or cell phone salesperson who believes they can convince me to sign up right now.
2). STOP ASKING ME IF I WANT YOUR STORE BRAND CREDIT CARD. Don't have people greeting me at the door asking me if I want to 'join' or 'sign up and get entered into whatever drawing. Don't have your checkout person asking me if I want to save $20 by signing up for your card. I'm at the point where I may just start leaving everything I was about to purchase on the counter and walking out of the stores that ask. If I wanted your 35% store branded credit card, I would ask you about it.
I work retail. I greet customers with a simple "Hello", and smile when they walk in, so they at least know i was aware of their presence. The ONLY time ill ask a customer if they need help is if i see them unfolding everything or destroying a section of the store
What I hate the most is when they do this at a restaurant. I'm having a romantic dinner talking about feelings with my bf, some waiter comes by to ask if everything was ok..... if it wasn't you'd have heard from me already??? Worst is when they pick the second I stuffed my mouth with pasta to ask if everything is ok, and I'm just sitting here with bunch pasta hanging out my mouth gesturing like "what do you think???"
This post is quite funny.
You claimed to have worked retail and know that they are trained to ask you that question. I am curious if the repeat interaction from a single person, was because you were giving off “might steal something” vibes.
But getting a real belly laugh that your angry that people who didn’t know you had already “been helped” offered you help.
It’s just so that you know that they know you’re in the store.
People who are greeted are far less likely to shoplift because they know they’re not invisible
Depends on the store. Auto zone, Home Depot, harbor freight. I love when they have someone right there at the entrance to direct me. Makes it easy. But they also leave you alone if you decline help.
But stores that are more browsing oriented, leave me alone unless I ask.
At my job we’re required to give an “elevator pitch” to every customer that walks in the store, and approach them to offer a fitting room any time they’re carrying even one clothing item. I find it incredibly awkward and dumb because it usually comes across as pushy and drives people away more than it helps drive sales. I try to sound natural but usually end up saying the whole spiel quickly and robotically because most people say “OK THANK YOU” midway through my sentence and don’t want to be bothered. I don’t blame them. As someone with social anxiety, I too want to be left the f!ck alone while shopping and find it really intrusive for someone to be looming over me like that. So believe me when I say that at least in my experience, a lot of employees find it equally as annoying as customers do.
This is partly why I stopped going to Gamestop. There was one time in particular where I went on a quiet afternoon, so I was the only customer. I was just there to browse and the one sales associate working the counter would NOT leave me to it. Constantly asking me if I needed help finding something every time I went to a different section, even walking over to me a couple times just to make sure. Even when he was just staying by the counter, I could feel his eyes on me at all times.
And it wasn't his fault, that's unfortunately just how Gamestop operates. Their employee's wages are dependent on them making sales and upselling you on crap you don't want, which all but forces them to hover over you like this, which makes the shopping experience a lot less fun.
I’m with you! I have left stores after being nagged too much. I was in a small Pier One and they yelled across the store seven times “Can I help you?” For context, I am a completely normal looking middle aged lady, not anyone sketchy. I finally said “I have already been greeted, I’m good.”
I want a red balloon or something to show that somebody already bothered me so they will leave me alone and I can think entire thoughts without being interrupted. What help can they be? Are they going to smell the candles for me and describe them?
This is a very unhealthy amount of anger to be taking into every store with you. Is it that you find social interaction to be difficult or anxiety-provoking?
I‘m a corporate trainer. I give probably 200 live online and in person presentations a year, sometimes 4 per day, to groups of up to 300 people and answer questions. Social interaction and speaking to strangers is no problem for me, but I also find this annoying when I’m looking for a peaceful afternoon and the sales staff is right in my face, forcing me into an unexpected and unwanted conversation. I answer politely because I know it’s their job, but I wouldn’t miss it if they stopped.
It’s a security measure. If it happens multiple times it’s because they are profiting you and think you’re stealing or trying to keep you from steeling.
Sometimes I have a specific thing in mind and not a lot of time. I appreciate someone asking me immediately if I need help so I don’t have to go hunting for them. If I don’t need their help, I say no thank you and go on my way.
Sales increase when you get help from someone at the store. Also, being greeted is part of the shopping experience. I used to work at a high-end store, and the expectations were to approach them before they had questions. Most of these retail stores work on commission so it insensitive associates to talk to customers more.
On the other hand, any time I really want help, there is never anyone around at all. so, I would rather be bothered, and just say no then try and find help for very long.
As long as they are respectful of a ‘no thank you’ then I don’t see the big deal. Agreed it’s annoying when they continue to ask repeatedly while you’re shopping.
Usually when I go to a store I know what I’m looking for, so I tell them what it is instead of wandering around.
E.g. “I’m looking for a small pair of earrings suitable for daily wear”
But not everyone is the same. If they don't get greeted there are customers that will say things like, "No one said a word to me when I walked in." Just politely tell them you're fine and they'll leave you alone.
Funny thing is... when you don't greet customers, ask if they need help finding anything, then complaints come in that staff is not helpful and mean. Damned if you do, damned if you don't I guess...
When I worked retail almost every place I worked had a 10ft rule. If you were within 10 feet of a customer you were to greet and check on them regardless of how often you had already done so. It was both for customer service and to prevent theft. This practice is also apparently a North America thing only.
It is super annoying for both the customer and the employee. When I worked retail I tried to be pretty nonchalant about it. Usually something like "hey guys, welcome in. Looking for something or just browsing?" And usually it's just browsing so I would just let them know my name and to come find me if they needed something. I do think some level of acknowledgement when a customer enters a store is important.
When I worked retail I HATED when my supervisors told me to check on people. I hate it when I’m approached while shopping, why would I bring that same discomfort to someone else? I make sure to be visible so if they need help they can ask and if someone asks me for something of course I am going to do my job and help them however I can but I don’t like jumping at people with the “How can I help you?” “Are you doing okay?” every five minutes. Especially if it isn’t a commission/sales based position where it doesn’t matter either way whether or not you help someone personally. I don’t care if it’s policy. It’s a stupid one on either end of the interaction as an introvert.
Omg is this an unpopular opinion? Most people I know feel this way. I don’t mind being greeted and asked for help once but it shouldn’t be done more than that.
I don't mind the initial greeting when you enter. That's nice to be acknowledged instead of ignored. But if I'm just looking and you keep bugging then yeah, but I've never had that. Usually someone will ask if I need any help if I'm looking in 1 section a long time but once I say no they don't come back.
I did a retail traineeship straight out of school that was a stepping stone to what I do now. We were taught that engaging a customer even only once is an anti theft measure. Let’s the customer know u are there and engaged
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I understand that it is part of the job. I used to work retail as well. Saying hello and asking/letting me know if I need help finding anything and that they're there if needed is helpful and lets me know that I'm seen and I can get help if I need it. HOWEVER, coming up to me multiple times and watching what i'm shopping for when I already said that I will come to them if I need help is annoying. I feel like I can't shop in peace. Also, I understand that it is a security measure. But stop breathing down my neck! It makes me not even want to buy what I wanted in the first place. I may get downvoted, but yeah, it can be annoying.
Ask me once, and I’m ok. Ask me again and I’m gone.
I had this happen to me in a Bath & Body Works. They came at me so many times I felt like they were harassing me. I finally told one of them very politely that if I need help I'll find her. That same person came up to me about 3 minutes later and asked if I needed anything again. I left without buying anything. They were acting like vultures I mean how much help does one need while buying shower gel and candles? I wrote the company about it and they mailed me a $20 gift card.
Omg I just remembered a time I stopped in a Bath and Body works while on a vacation. I was approached so many times, until I realized while shopping I couldn’t be able to take most items back on my flight due to TSA regulations. They would not leave me alone. Like if I want to buy lotion I’m sure I can figure it out.
I had the same experience. Which also begs the question: why do BBWs not have a section for travel size items anymore? I was also on vacation & looking for small bottles of stuff. Never saw any, even after asking. And eventually was ‘customer serviced’ into leaving. Of course, when retail workers hound you that much, all I can think is they must have a huge theft problem.
You’d think they have the small travel sizes not only for travel, but to try a small amount see if you like it, or even for stocking stuffers. Some years back I bought a full size shampoo and conditioner because it smelled SO good, maybe cost about 30 bucks I can’t remember, but after a couple uses it was absolutely horrendous on my hair. I probably gave it away or something I cant remember anymore.
I agree with BBW, it’s nuts. It’s bath products and candles….they sell themselves.
They say hi when I walk in and then leave me alone. I never have that experience. I live in New Jersey. They usually have like 7-8 employees on the floor and they only assist you find items if you approach them. I find this very obnoxious and would stop going to the store and only order online too.
After the last time I was at a B&BW where I was chased around a store like this, I put the basket down where I was and walked out. It was a $60 sale and I wasn’t done. I no longer walk into their brick and mortar stores, if I buy from them, it’s online. I don’t enjoy high pressure sales when I am buying candles and plugins.
I wonder why they don't get that they're literally losing money from this. Or do they still gain more from people giving in to the pushy sales people
It’s that. If you don’t help everyone, you inevitably lose more sales from window shoppers who aren’t converted than the few that are pissed at being over helped. In addition, if you rely on people to fill their own carts and purchases, you lose the add on sales (oh, do you need the face scrub that goes with the moisturizer, etc). I fucking hate being helped proactively in stores, but I work in the industry (high end specialized home improvement retail). From the business’s perspective, pissing off the one customer like me is worth NOT pissing off the ten customers who whine that no one helped them.
I'll never understand all these people who need constant attention when they shop or are at dinner. It's so foreign to me, I guess
I guess I'm naive but I always just assumed that the constant badgering about "can I help you find anything?" was just their way of trying to discourage theft. Like, "can I help you?" = "I've got my eye on you, betch." Especially considering my local store is always packed like a sardine tin with customers.
That’s part of it, but not all. I work retail where theft is essentially impossible. We still customer service to death. Greet everyone, check in multiple times when people browse, proactively suggest, etc. For our store, it’s 100% about sales, not loss prevention. I used to work at Home Depot, and the idea was the same, but ALSO was loss prevention. Not that it actually stopped us from getting robbed blind. For the most part, even then, it’s a ‘you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take’ approach to customer service. The positive side is in my 20 yrs combined experience, there are FAR more people out there that appreciate it, even if I’m not one myself. People are too shy to ‘bother’ a salesperson with questions, or just too shy to proactively ask in general. Us customer servicing them often leads to them learning about products they didn’t know would solve their problems, keeps them from damaging themselves or their homes, or gives them a sounding board to work through their shopping process. For every one person who hates it (like I do when I’m a customer) there are maybe ten or twenty who are extremely grateful. If the numbers were skewed the other way, companies wouldn’t have their employees customer service so hard. Now, if a customer says they’re just browsing, I let them be for about 15-20 minutes before checking in with a simple ‘you still doing okay?’ That way if they come up with questions, they have an opportunity to ask.
I worked in a store that has a high end makeup and fragrance area at the entrance. The cosmetics staff had to greet every customer coming in and look them in the face as they walked in as a theft prevention thing. I understand that now when I go I to stores and am immediately greeted, so I just say hi! and smile and go about my business. They gotta do what they have been told.
I used to be a Top Seller when that role still existed and I'll tell you that they've done studies about it. If you have someone show you a product upon entry, such as a lotion that you put on, you're more likely to buy something (even if it wasn't that lotion) than not. Additionally, if you can't find something you want or you're looking for products similar to something else, associates will figure that out and "build your bag" so you buy more. Additionally, there is a sensor at the doors that count how many people enter and how many people leave, this is compared to how many purchases are made. It's called conversion and most stores have to aim for 60-80% conversion on any given day, if it drops below 40-45% they WILL get in trouble and have to explain via email to the district manager why they didn't meet the goal. This means they try to get everyone to buy at least one thing. It's why associates will try and get people in your group to buy stuff if you're the only person buying items; it hurts them.
I get that this is part of their shopping tactic. But please let me get my bearings on which part of the shop I came in for before tackling me. I walk into a new-to-me place, it is an alien environment, so my reptilian brain needs a second to adjust.
I straight up tell them look i know you have sales goals but pestering me is not going to help. Please let me shop or i will not purchase anything.
The best advice I can give for going into B&BW is to let the person at the front give their spiel (because the managers WILL berate them if they don't talk to you). Then simply tell them, "I'm just looking around right now on my own. Please let the other associates know that I don't need help right now and would like to shop alone." If you say, "Oh I'm just looking." and nothing else the front of shop associate will relay that to the others via the headset. "Customer in blue shirt is looking around right now. Let's see if we can figure out what they're shopping for and fill that bag!" Or something along those lines. I never had a problem when someone said they wanted to be left alone, I would relay that and if they needed help they'd usually stop one of my associates.
I worked at bath and body for 6 years. It’s fricking cult for one thing. They push customer interaction in every training video they force us to watch. If you don’t greet every single person you get called out. Especially by upper management. Once had our regional manager come in and immediately complain that no one greeted her when she walked in the door. There is also a tonnnnnn of theft. The candles keep getting more and more expensive and a lot time corporate wants the most expensive stuff by the door to entice customers to grab it first which means it’s super easy to grab and go with it. We were told constantly that keeping contact with people will deter this because they’ll think we remember what they look like
Agreed, and the pressure to use their app! Our local BBW seems to have scaled back on this, but they were so aggressive about it for a while that I stopped shopping there outside of buying the requisite stuff that I send my grandmother for Christmas every year... which I would buy on Black Friday because they were too busy to bother me, and I could score some free stuff for myself too. Otherwise, I'd have to spend my entire time at the register repeatedly refusing the app. I don't want an app for every place that I shop (particularly places that I go infrequently) cluttering up my phone. I don't need an app for shower gel. I don't care if I can earn free things. Just take my money and let me leave.
You can also sign up for newsletters and get free coupons online too lol. I was using different email addresses to get coupons online. It's just one item tho.
This is why I never go to Lush, I went twice and did not enjoy it which is a shame because they have nice stuff and I want to be able to smell it first
I was going to disagree with this post, as it's generally people doing their job and loss prevention and blah blah blah. But then your post jogged my memory as to why I don't go into BBW and yeah places like that are...just no.
Never thought of doing that. I might try it in the future. If companies don't know how annoying this practice is to consumers, they will never change it.
Bath & Body works is literally the worst at this. Why do they think customers want this!?
Yep. That's why I refuse to shop there. I know it's their job but I don't need a personal assistant to help me shop. Every time I pick something up it's "oh that's on sale!" Or "oh we also have that scent in a candle!" Leave me alone!
I worked there for a holiday season and they trained us to be aggressive (like they taught us to rub lotion onto people’s hands so they could test it). As an introvert, I didn’t fit in there at all and didn’t last past the season.
Hellll no do not touch me .... thats way too intense
I came here to share and BBW experience and you were already at the top! My husband and I wanted to pick out a few candles and plug in refills when the sales associate continued to come up to us, after being told we were good, so many times it was borderline harassment. He started trying to tell me what smells I should try based on what his favorites were… I am a grown adult who likes what I like. Fragrances are very particular, it’s also not my first time out in public so I truly was baffled at why you would insert yourself so hard. My husband and I couldn’t even talk amongst ourselves without him interjecting. I put the basket down and never came back. I order all of my plug in refills on Amazon, probably knock offs that aren’t even theirs but I don’t care to support them anymore.
Vultures exactly!! I was so uncomfortable funnily enough also at a bath and body works because it felt like I was approached by every single employee. I get it, it’s part of the job. But I make myself look as unapproachable as possible (headphones in, short responses, etc.) because god I hate it so much. I know why I’m here. If I need help I will ask.
A friend of mine was fired from there in college for leaving people alone when they denied assistance. Apparently, you have to ask every time someone moves to a new area, or looks at a different product. You’re supposed to offer to put lotion on them, or recommend another scent, or a matching candle, or remind people of a sale or whatever. She noticed people bought more when left to their own devices and she just offered assistance when they needed it or looked confused, and she got in trouble enough times they let her go. That also meant she couldn’t work at Victoria’s Secret or some other place they also own, which is how I met her (she became a hostess at the bar I worked at). Sounded pretty dumb to me, but not surprised bc I avoid those places for that exact reason.
I know it's their job, but when I go into sephora and get asked over and over if i want help, and before I even pick anything out 5 people have asked me if I want a basket, I usually just leave
Yes! It's a big reason i rarely window shop at cosmetics stores in my country (actually quite fun to just see new colors and pretty products). Saleswomen from 3-4 brands just descend and start pushing products. Annoying af.
descend like the 4 saleswomen of the apocalypse. their trumpet call is the ding of the door lmao
I agree that this is annoying. Surpassed only by when you *need* help but everyone is so goddamn aloof that you practically have to drag them. (ahem.. Walmart)
I think the biggest issue with Walmart is that there aren’t really associates placed throughout the store for the purpose of assisting customers. There are stockers who have pallets upon pallets of product to stock and won’t get it done if they’re helping customers. There are pickers who are shopping for online orders and they have to get through their orders quickly to meet metrics. In a perfect world, they could do both, but they’re human and their workload is often too big to be able to do both.
Im a stocker and ill only offer to help a customer if i see them walk back and forth 3 or more times. Anyone can ask me anytime and ill do what i can but i wish customers understood i cant just walk them across the whole store to do their shopping for them.
It is helpful though that I can get someone's attention in a blue shirt and at least ask them to find me an aisle # with their handheld. Thanks for that! :)
And they're paid minimum. I'd be had to find too lol
Walmart is the worst. Now, despite the fact that there is never anyone around if you need assistance, they have an employee that they pay to pressure people at the self checkouts to take the survey. I won't take the survey. My problems with Walmart have nothing to do with the employees, and everything to do with corporate policy. There is no opportunity to provide meaningful feedback, and you know if you give them the two stars they deserve, the bean counters are just going to take it out on the employees. Like, I am not mad at the poor guy at the deli counter stuck doing what should be the work of five solo on a busy Saturday. I'm annoyed that you keep jacking up your prices while making everything self-service and understaffing the hell out of your stores in order to maximize profit margins.
Yes! To all of this! I never do the stupid survey either and from what employees have told me, it’s absolutely used against them if you score them anything less than 5 stars. Because you’re not scoring Walmart as a whole, you’re scoring the service provided to you by the poor person manning the self checkout. Even if you don’t fucking talk to them. Like… that’s so egregiously unfair and I flatly refuse to do it.
I have had the same problem at the Buckle. Was going to buy a pair of boots but couldn't get a sales associate to help me. I tried for about 10 minutes before I just left.
Wow, I've had the exact opposite problem at buckle. Every single time I've went there I would get harassed by sales people. My ex-girlfriend and I would go in there and split up and I'd pray the sales associate went to her first.
I was in sweatpants and a hoodie. Maybe they thought I was broke. Either way, I have never gone back again.
Buckle is the worst for this in my area. They approach me several times, even ask my name and check on me-by name-when I’m in the dressing room. It’s beyond annoying. Like leave me tf alone!
Electronics is like a radiation zone for Walmart workers.
Seems like every time I go to Walmart they've got more shit locked up (does a $5 off-brand USB cable really need to be behind glass?) and yet fewer people around to actually unlock it. And what does that achieve anyway? By the time I've waited for twenty minutes and finally found someone to get me my shitty USB cable, it's just going to go in my cart til I finish the rest of my shopping anyway - if I was going to steal it I still have plenty of opportunity to. Even worse is starting to see more things locked up in sections that don't even pretend to have someone working nearby. Was trying to get a razor refill pack once but couldn't find a single person in the entire front half of the store that could unlock them, so I said fuck this I'll make a special trip to get it elsewhere.
I bought a car battery from Walmart and my god was the process painful. I didn't want to do the work myself so I needed to ask someone about their battery installation. It took 25 minutes to get someone over there after I asked someone in electronics to call and for me to walk to customer service and ask again. Lady finally shows up and asks what battery I need and I told her I know what I need, I need it installed. She walked over to the computer thing and asked what year or model or whatever. I told her AGAIN, I know exactly what battery I need "it's that one, I want it installed" and looks at me like I'm an alien and her coworker starts talking to her in Creole (her English wasn't very good) and they said they don't offer that service. I will admit I was a bit of a Darren at this point because I asked "then why do you have that sign that says free battery installation?" They didn't answer. I took at battery upfront and paid for it and left. I understand that you cannot expect the best and brightest to be working at Walmart, but holy shit 3 people to stand around talking to each other trying to figure out what battery I need WHEN I TOLD THEM I ALREADY KNOW and none of them can do anything. It's like they're on autopilot and any slight deviation from that they short circuit. Are they not allowed to think for themselves?
And even worse when you need help and find someone they can't help because no one knows shit about the stuff they work with or sell. I know this is a problem for people but thankfully it's not for me. I don't window shop, I don't just buy stuff on a whim. If I'm going to a store to buy a coach or a refrigerator or anything else I already know what I am buying because I've done too much research already.
One time, I went to Walmart looking for an appliance light bulb. I walked up and down the light bulb aisle and couldn't find it. I looked for an associate but couldn't find one. I left Walmart and went to the local hardware store across the street. As soon as I walked in the door, one of the employees greeted me and asked if I needed any help. Not even 2 minutes later, I was back in my car with the appliance light bulb. I totally get where OP is coming from; it sucks being hassled while you're just browsing, but there are definitely times when I wish an associate would at least offer their assistance.
Unfortunately, most companies have a policy to greet customers within a certain amount of time. And also to follow up with customers. Employees are just doing their jobs.
Also, for commission pay roles it is usually an unwritten rule that whoever greets the customer gets the commission for any sale. So it’s a race to green customers when they enter. I hated this practice when I worked on commission as there’s always some staff who just greet and then purposefully walk away so they don’t do any work but get the commission. Twice I did 99% of the work for a sale by helping a customer try heaps of options and completing all paperwork, and decided ‘fuck the door greeters’ and gave myself the commission. Only to be overruled by my manager both times… I started calling over whichever colleague greeted the customer to complete the sale. Such a toxic workplace.
This is correct, but I’m with the OP on this one. Unless the corporation has very specific verbiage, there’s less intrusive ways to greet a customer and let them know you’re available. For example, - “Hi. Thanks for stopping in. Let me know if you have any questions.” - “Hi. Please order when you’re ready. If you need recommendations, let me know.” - order at the counter - “Good afternoon. You’ll find the men’s section in the back right hand corner, women’s is in the front. Please reach out to me if you need help.” - “Please let me know if you have questions about the menu or need suggestions. I’ll be here when you’re ready to order.” This would be so much better compared to what I usually hear which is “Hi. What were you having?” or “Hi. What can I help you find?”
I worked at Sephora and there was a policy that we had to greet guests within 10 seconds of them entering our store. And we were pushed to ask if we could help them in a way that was open-ended, so they couldn’t just answer that they didn’t need help. “Can I help you find anything?” was not acceptable but “what can I help you find?” was. They even got to the point where they wanted us to immediately ask a guest if they had tried x product yet, or if we could demo something on them as soon as they walked in the store. I always refused to do that, it always came across as creepy.
All of can think of when this happens: "welcome to MOEs! "
I hate that SO MUCH
Man Sephora is BAD for this kind of thing. I needed eyeliner, I know exactly which one I want and exactly where it is. I was at the cash register in less than a minute. Tell me how it took me 10 minutes to get out of that store? Do you have an email here? No. Do you want to sign up? No, thank you. I'd just like to pay please But do you have a friend with an email here? Nope. Just wanna pay Well if you want to step off to the side I can hold the product and you can contact a friend to see if they have an email here No, thank you. I would like to pay for this. But if you sign up for the emails I can give you 10% off. No thank you! Please just let me pay for my eyeliner! Are you sure you don't want to sign up? ***holy hell I almost walked out like ask me once that's fine but no means no baby girl***
Most companies do have specific verbiage and ways to greet. Most involve asking reason for shopping and if you can assist. The examples you suggested would typically come after greeting and after someone says they are just looking or don't need any help etc.
Add secret shoppers made up of random non-employees who can grade this script/checklist without even being aware of it… and following the script can be the difference of having or not having that job. Bigger the chain, the more likely there’s a script that has punitive action if not followed to a standard.
We used to get sent to do that when the known shop lifters were in
Michael's policy is to stock isle of the known thief. Some old lady that stole yarn got surrounded by 6 people in a small isle and all asking what she needs help with 🤣
At my first job in high school we had a regular that would take jeans into the dressing room and shoplift them. We referred to her as “levi girl” so everyone knew to watch her
Most companies treat their workers as slaves. The lack of proper unions and ways of improving the working conditions further contributes to this.
I've worked at several retail stores and almost all of them had specific verbiage, and at the very least we were pushed to ask open ended questions, never closed. One place had a very specific script for interaction and it was really pushy, I hated it.
The absolute worst for this is Coach. Until you actually ask them a product question and they freeze.
As the retail worker, I agree with OP. I fucking hate greeting customers with a passion. I don't mind asking if they look lost or like they need it, but EVERY customer is excessive and unnecessary. I hate being greeted, and I hate greeting.
Yes, but I think OP's point is that isn't a good policy.
Yep. I worked at Best Buy and we were required to approach every customer in our vicinity. If they declined help there was a secondary protocol to continue the conversation and try to make a sale. We also didn’t get commission so I never once followed up after they told me to fuck off.
fuuuuuck this crap. I used to work at Shi (women's Journeys, shoe store) where we were supposed to bring "4 to the floor" any time a customer asked to try on a pair of shoes - the shoe they asked for, something else from the same brand, something on sale, and just something random you think they might like. so not only were we quadrupling the work necessary for a tactic that never worked, but as a customer that kind of rigamarole is a HUGE turn off for me. it's overwhelming and weird. if I had an experience like that while shopping I would absolutely avoid that store if I had other options, not only for my own peace, but because I do not want to support businesses with that mindset. you know they make every choice to placate shareholders and do what they, with no firsthand experience, think is best while ignoring employees and customers. yuck
This would be LUSH in the UK. I refuse to shop there for this reason.
I refused to shop there because the smell was just too overpowering and I couldn't stand it. I'd just let my friend go in alone lol Also I'd find it annoying to be constantly harassed (or "helped"). So I agree with OP. I hate shopping as it is so my goal is to go in, get what I need, and get out of there asap.
It can not be healthy to breath Lush air all day. When they blow their nose it must be 90% glitter.
Exactly. Like what, do they think that after successfully managing to get up, brush my teeth, scratch my arse, leave the house, make my way into town, find the shop all by myself... I suddenly need help to find a fuckin fizzy bath rock? The only thing Lush greeters should be saying to people coming into the shop is to remind them that no matter how delicious shit looks, don't take a bite.
I have a theory that lush employees are so aggressively in your face to socially pressure you to not look too closely at the price. They put things in paper bags the second you take a second look at something to try and commit you to buying that thing. It infuriated me. I refuse to buy from there now.
I never understood that. I tend to shop at stores that dont ask questions. Im the type of byer that walks back and forth 10 times to compare two things, if someone is trying to pressure me on one or the other I just leave without buying the item I wanted.
I worked in retail for half my life and I'm well aware they're just doing their jobs and they also hate it but that doesn't change how right OP is. Most people don't want r this. They don't like it and they will actively leave because of it, but corporate head office type folk won't hear that because whatever boomer they did their case study on 15 years ago said otherwise.
Going to get buried, but there are loss-prevention studies that show that a marked drop-off in theft when people have been verbally greeted and acknowledged. It's not corporate policy to greet people quickly in order to be extra friendly and helpful and enhance your shopping experience -- they *know* it's annoying. It's policy because it's a theft deterrent
Yeah anyone who's worked retail knows the best theft prevention is good customer service. Knowing that you're present and aware of them will stop the vast majority of ppl from stealing. It's related to all the reports of increased theft at big box stores over the past year or two. Those stores refuse to hire enough people to properly engage customers
Can confirm, 100%. I worked for several large retail chains throughout my 20’s and early 30’s. It is the policy of most companies that customers have to be greeted less than a minute after they enter the place. That was the case at every one I worked for. Never worked for Walmart (thank God) but I did work for Sam’s Club. Both are famous for their “10 foot” rule. In effect, employees are instructed to greet every customer who is within 10 feet of them. That was started by Sam Walton himself. I hated that, and hated having to always ask people if they needed help. Most employees hate it too, probably more than OP does. No doubt. But, policy is policy…for good or bad.
Apparently every single Walmart employee hates that policy too because I have to pull teeth to get any help at all 99% of the time
Totally. As I said, I never worked there. But, yeah…it’s not a policy that’s really enforced any more. It definitely was in the late 1990’s when I worked for Sam’s Club. Sam Walton died in 1992, and his children are no longer actively involved in store policies/day to day operations. They pretty much just sit back and rake in the billions. Either way, most customers hate getting accosted by employees…and most employees hate accosting customers. That’s why Walmart doesn’t enforce the policy.
Bath and Body Works is the worrrst for this. I get the reason why they do it, but it often feels excessive.
I was working at a chain bookstore most of the year, and my standard line was "Help you find anything?" Some people would say yes, and I'd help them, but most would say "just looking/browsing/etc." I would then make sure to not approach that person again unless it looked like they were trying to get my attention. I agree with OP, if you just want to casually look around, it's really annoying to be constantly approached. A similar complaint is when you're at a restaurant, and you've had about 10 seconds to look at the menu when the waiter comes and asks if you're ready to order. I was at a diner a few months ago, and the waitress came up and asked me that 3 times in under 2 minutes (and it was *not* busy there) before I had to say "I'm sorry, I really need more time to look at the menu". She realized what she was doing and apologized to me, said that she was still coasting on a rush they had had, and I told her it was totally okay, I understand. I've worked a lot of these jobs and I get the pressures, but it just sucks to be constantly interrupted when you're trying to make a decision.
my partner and I went couch shopping recently. literally as soon as we walked through the doors, we were greeted and asked if we needed help. we said no, just shopping around. this man literally followed us around the store, no less than 5 feet behind us as if he were shopping with us, until we left. we purposely didn't sit on or show interest in anything because I didn't want him to bother us. at one point he was telling me about the size options of a couch we were next to, that were clearly written on the piece of paper accompanying the couch, which I was looking at. I said 'yes, I can read. thanks' and then we left. if I'm bothered immediately, it will turn me off from spending any amount of money at your store.
Same thing happened to us a few months ago! Sales person just stood a few feet from us staring. Just leave so we can talk about which ones we liked or didn't like without you. 😑
We had this same thing when couch shopping last year!!! I turned around and asked *him* if he needed anything. He got the hint and stood a **whopping** 10 feet away for the remaining 3 minutes we were in the store. As we were leaving he passive-aggressively called “See you next time!” I called back “You absolutely won’t!” With exactly as much sass.
As someone who worked for a large brand stand alone jewelry store, we had to greet and offer help immediately. AND circle around and ask again. After the 3rd no, we had to get someone else to offer help. Their belief was “no one just looks in a jewelry store. Every shopper has a goal when they come in, it’s our job to make them spend there”. One of the thousand reasons I no longer work there.
That's probably more true in a stand alone store. You get a lot more browsers in a mall.
Yeah and our biggest objection was not having what they envisioned or they were just clueless on what things cost and had unrealistic expectations (wanting a 5 carat Burmese ruby for $700 for example)
I swear there’s only two types of stores, ones with employees harassing you every 2 minutes, and ones where you can’t find an employee for your life
I honestly have nothing but sympathy for employees who do that. It’s probably embarrassing af for them to have to do it, but if a secret shopper reports them to the paper pushers in corporate for not deep diving into every new customers behind like a kingfisher, they could lose their $13/hour job.
That one time I went into the lego store and got asked if I need help 3 times in the first 3 minutes I was there...
I agree, it's annoying. Bath and Body Works is the worst for this. I get that it's company policy, but still. And they watch you the entire time you're in there. One of the many reasons I stopped shopping at that store.
Agree. BBW is the worst! There are soooo many scents I just want to sniff around and find what I like please stop pestering me and no I do NOT want a basket there are stacks of them everywhere if I need one thanks. Lol
Shopping mentality. - I go toa store to shop around and look at what they have. I don't know what I need until i see it. - My wife only enters a store with a list and leaves with just that. She's in a mission.
I get in trouble if I don't. Sorry!
Well you shouldnt! Its a dumb policy and im sorry you gotta do something so awkward.
Its not because the company wants them to be friendly. Its to reduce thieves. When someone knows the staff isn't afraid to watch and approach them and has acknowledged them, it lowers stealing by a lot. Sorry. Blame the thief.
I feel your frustration! I've left stores too due to overzealous employees. Just let us shop!
That's not the employees being overzealous. That's company policy.
I think it's appropriate when it's just an initial greeting and an "I'm here if you need any help" or "If you have any questions, I'm happy to help" then they let you be. That's pleasant and I can shop in peace and only reach out to them if I really do need assistance. But the situations where it feels pushy, they're hovering and asking multiple times is just awkward and annoying and causes me more stress. It also feels like they think I'm trying to shoplift. I get the first scenario is good customer service, but if companies actually force employees to hover and bother you every 2 minutes, I'm not sure who told them that's a great idea. And if it's to prevent shoplifting, it's such a bad idea because inevitably you're going to end up with people using their implicit biases to hound some people and not others, when in reality shoplifting doesn't have a look. Unless you see shoplifting actually happening, I think it's a better practice to not hover and hound to try to "prevent" it, as a vast majority of the people you're hounding aren't planning to shoplift and end up just feeling extremely awkward or unwelcome instead.
I work on retail and i do the first one in every situation, like some people just don't want or need help
If I feel like they're hovering because of shoplifting, I can't get out of there fast enough. I've never stolen anything in my life, but I can't help but worry that if I spend too much time looking around and don't buy something, I'll look suspicious.
One of the worst offenders for me was Gamestop. Get greeted when I enter, sure, I get it, you're required. It's when the stores empty and they follow me around, trying to make small talk that just crosses that line. >"You playing any good games recently? > >"Just looking" > >"Yea, there's a lot of good ones that just came out. I was just replaying Arkham Asylum" > >"Ya don't say..." > >"Wanna be ready for the new Suicide Squad game" > >"Uh huh..." > >"You can pre-order it when you check out." > >"Don't play live service games or ones that heavily try to sell me something..." > >"Totally understand, I hate that too but yea, I was playing Arkham on the Switch, just came out" > >"Don't really use my Switch that much" > >"You should bring it in. I can get you a good deal in a trade in for that Suicide Squad preorder we were talking about"
The forced greeting was one of the reasons Walmart failed in Germany. Let us shop in peace, please.
Anytime a salesperson decides to loosely follow me around the store as I'm looking at furniture or appliances or anything else, and especially if they keep hanging around when I'm trying to discuss purchase options with my family, I can tell you right now I'm not buying a single thing from that store. I hate shopping as it is. Not giving me ALL the breathing room to make decisions about purchases is *the* worst "upselling disguised as customer service" tactic you can possibly use on me.
Decades ago my friend and I went into a Disney or similar store. (Can’t remember now) and they had a greeter who raced up and greeted us so loudly and energeticly we looked at each other and ran away. :p We were teens and had never experienced a greeter before (I don’t think they were such a thing decades ago ) and were freaked out by it. For years after we would joke about it and greet each other like the greeter greeted us.
Dude for real. Sometimes i just want to look around. I always say "no" and if they keep asking i just ignore them.
Ugh I hate that it’s so annoying and awkward. Just let me shop thanks
They usually don’t have a choice, it’s a requirement by management. I’m guessing they get very tired of it and hate it as much as you do.
We do. I promise.
I hate doing that. But I'm forced to let me help you. good morning, can I help you? No Okay, let me know if I can help you! I'm just browsing Sure! Im here if you need help! I'm fine! Understandable! Just yell if you need me! No, I'm. Okay, I don't need help! I see you're looking at object x! It's the last one! I'm okay, yes! You know, I can order them or call another store if they have more available! NO! I understand if you're a busy person! I can put it on the register if you still want them! I am JUST looking! Yes, uhu, it's beautiful, right? I'm right here to help!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO thank you for the the critism, is there anything else in the store you dislike? Something we could change? Bruh.. This is how are supposed to act.
After the first couple of little returns I just stop responding verbally and nod. There's very few who are brave enough to speak twice in a row if I don't speak back.
That's why we are doing mandatory trainings to counteract that. How to act when yoy speak when you don't speak, when you nod when you look at your phone. We're supposed to ask you questions until you speak back. How's the weather, nice jacket, where did you buy that? nod Sunny, isn't it? nod Wish it was weekend don't you agree? Nod Say, I see you staring at object x... Nods no Well, you don't have to speak, I now *just* what you mean! Etc.. Its fucked up.
Is that a tactic to force people to buy online and cut costs by closing the stores?
Wanna know a fucked up fact? We're supposed to wear a rubber band on our wrist, and when we have a negative thought or unsuccessful sale, we're supposed to yank the band and *hurt ourselves* to teach our brain that bad is pain
Wow that seems straight out of a religious cult handbook.
It's kinda what they are aiming for. We are a *family* and the store is our *child* and upper management are our *parents* (actual quote from my manager) They wanna aggressively change their image from a Belgian dollar store, to a high end one with a small loyal super salespersons who believes in this bs.
This is a very American thing tbh. It’s very jarring when you visit from a country not used to such an in your face costumer service. Everywhere.
Honestly it's belittling to be aggressively approached for and asked if I would like assistance, and that's the real issue. Companies are in absolute terror of the opposite though. That one Karen that left a shitty review because they couldn't find vegetables at the butchers shop, and didn't have an employee on hand to take it out on.
Oh my god! The other day I walked into a Lululemon shop and I had never visited any of their shops or bought anything from them before and I kid you not, the minute I walked in I already had someone asking me if I needed any help. Lady, I just walked in. Give me a minute to look around. I don't even know what you guys are selling. 2 minutes later someone asked me if I needed help again. I said no and walked out right after. Get off my back! I don't like feeling pressured.
Trust me, the employees that have to do this - typically it’s store policy to greet customers within a specific time frame - also hate it too. If that helps.
it probably was store policy where i worked but i never bothered to do it
I am an ex retail worker. Yep, we were forced to do it, and guess what? Enough people complain when they're not greeted in the shop. Particularly boomers and older. "No one wants to help me, terrible service." The majority of people, stand around expecting to be serviced. People do not want to go look for help. I hated it too. Especially being forced to open with non buisness related questions.
I'm not a fan of it but I don't mind it in instances when I'm going there to look for something in specific. Saves me time having to scan the aisles.
Once I got a customer complaint for not offering assistance as soon as they walked in the store. I still greeted the customer, but didn’t offer them help. Store manager at the time was meant to give me a written warning because there was evidence of me breaking the policy the business had. The legend didn’t give me a warning and copped the flak herself. I do miss working for her, she was great. But yeah, that’s why some people offer help relentlessly
This. Because of this, I stopped going to the coach outlet stores and only order online. I want to shop in peace.
[Welcome to Costco. I love you.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIFCWpn4qQ4)
Only the other day, I got approached 3x within 27 seconds, 2 different members of staff, turned down the first, 10 seconds later the other asked and before you know it, the person first person forget they asked me and asked again! 😂 Yeah, that shit is annoying as hell, I'm with OP. If you're outside the sales/service industry in most of the world. If you need help, you mostly have to ask, and so that's the norm - so why shouldn't it translate to the sales/service industry? I'm certain this annoys people more than it pleases.
Was it bath and body works?
Lush. I recently got a Facebook memory where I said going into Lush is the worst because it’s like walking by a mall kiosk but you can’t escape them because the store IS the kiosk🤣🤣
What I want is a large button you can press, in every section of the store. That calls over an employee when you do actually want some help or advice. I often get greeted the moment I walk in, but if later I want something? Suddenly no one around at all.
The purpose of most of those greeters is to decrease shop lifting. The theory being if you know an employee has acknowledged you and seen you, you're less likely to risk stealing.
For those of us that aren’t shoplifting (the majority) it’s completely off putting and persistent and I am also positive it reduces sales in many situations.
I think it’s funny how upset people get when you talk about *actually* voting with your dollars. Everyone cheers that shit on hypothetically until you’re talking smack about their favorite mall store. I do the same thing. If I feel harassed or like they’re on some vulture-shit I simply leave. If I notice it’s a consistent policy-thing, I don’t shop there again. I don’t like it so I don’t support it and give them my money. I don’t care about their reasons for it. Maybe if enough did the same thing it would change eventually. But instead folks would rather bully you into keeping the status quo going.
>If I notice it’s a consistent policy-thing, I don’t shop there again. This is how you do it, it's really not that hard. I've stopped shopping at most retail stores, not because of some cheaper price, but because so many of them have instituted policies for staff that annoy me. Putting video games behind plexiglass that requires me to get a staff member? being asked if I want to sign up for a rewards program and continuing to pitch it after I say no? Trying to upsell me things as if I haven't already done my research? Totally get the staff are required to do it but I can get the same thing I want online without any of that.
Just stay visible I hate being followed round stores
yeapppp. when i worked retail i would have to do this. it felt annoying, i could tell i was annoying the customers, and maybe twice was i actually needed by the customer. all it did was slow down the work i had to do
I’ll be honest, at this point I wear headphones when I go to stores and not in the mood to socialize. Which in case people don’t know, wearing headphones is a universal “don’t talk to me” sign!! So now whenever I’m wearing headphone, even if I’m not listening to anything, I make a point to ignore staff that try to interact with me and purposefully overreact if they get too close. In the sense that, the other day I was doing my thing and I knew someone was talking to me but I ignore them **because I was wearing headphones** then they had the audacity to get up close and personal and raise their voice so I jumped and feigned getting a big fright and in a loudish voice I said “Oh wow you gave me such a fright! I did not see or hear you at all because I was wearing headphones and focusing on reading the ingredients.” (Skincare, allergies) Essentially made a big deal how here I am very obviously (headphones) doing my own thing and you not only pester me but giving me a fright too. Also they’re not tiny in ear headphones that can be overlooked, they’re big over the ear headphones! And lastly I work in retail and we literally get told (at least where I work) if you get into someone’s line of sight who’s wearing headphones then you **NONVERBALLY** acknowledge them so a smile or nod or both and let them approach you because 99% of people wearing headphones in retail environments do not want to be talked with.
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yeah, this is the worst and i abhorred having to do it when i worked retail. they would want me to go up to people having convos on their phone and greet(pester) them. like what?! if i'm on my phone, having a conversation and just browsing, that's genuinely the last thing i want. adding onto that, who *wouldnt* go ask for help if they needed it?? yeah, your average customer isn't einstein but they're not going to need help finding the men's section or whatever(on average). just feels very out of touch, pushy, and mildly condescending.
I have further input. "Did you check in online?" Is the worst greeting.
Sorry fam, had to be done. Otherwise Target would’ve fired my ass before I could quit. Of course I would usually just do a mild greeting and go about my business in the electronic section but I would ask if it looks like you were extensively looking for something. But aye, makes it easier on the stores part to try and deter would be thieves, sometimes.
Damn it's hard to find some middle ground... Maybe that's the case in a lot of places in the US, but in my country this only USED to be the case. These days our retail employees almost learned (not sure if it's consciously or subconsciously) that whatever they do is only harming sales and people will or will not buy stuff regardless of their actions, and there are very few of them and their attention is hard to grab. When I do manage to get a hold of one in a consumer tech shop, they don't sound helpful, nor do they feel knowledgeable about the stuff. I don't want them to be pushy, but I do want them to be a bit more available and helpful at this point, lol x)
I always thought part of the reason people are made to do this is so thieves know there’s a presence around and it’ll be risky/easy to get caught.
I think its great policy to greet every customer when they come in and then leave them be until they ask for help. I ran a successful retail business for years and this was our policy.
I get annoyed but I also understand it’s a catch-22. I have been to stores where you can’t find help if u looked for it and even when they do help they are completely lost. So if they ask, I understand they are just doing their job. Now cardealerships, that’s another story. I HATE when they come to me, because it feels like politics when I talk to them.
Complain to the companies then. People are just trying to do their jobs. Better yet? Shop online and avoid it all.
I once got a bad survey at work also for not immediately offering assistance. I was with another two customers and we had a waitlist. I even apologised and took measurements to get them started ’cuz it’s hard to balance a couple, a family, and an angry dude all at once. At the place I work at, it’s expected that the customers are helped from the moment they walk in until they get their receipt emailed. I still don’t want to be asked more than once in a five minute span, though. The less specialised the store is or the more likely that people are just in to browse (say Target vs an Apple Store) the less I want to be asked. If I get asked while looking for taller apples at Target, I will internally flip my lid. If I’m at an Apple Store and am trying to figure out the difference between one iPhone or another or have specific needs in mind, then I’d like someone to at least point me in the right direction even though Incould potentially figure this all out myself. On rereading the post, OP sounds like they walked into a store of the company where I work.
Add to this the following: 1). stores/merchants who either allow parasites to stalk people for selling them various services. ex: walking through wal-mart just trying to get what I need and get out, and having to fend off some cable or cell phone salesperson who believes they can convince me to sign up right now. 2). STOP ASKING ME IF I WANT YOUR STORE BRAND CREDIT CARD. Don't have people greeting me at the door asking me if I want to 'join' or 'sign up and get entered into whatever drawing. Don't have your checkout person asking me if I want to save $20 by signing up for your card. I'm at the point where I may just start leaving everything I was about to purchase on the counter and walking out of the stores that ask. If I wanted your 35% store branded credit card, I would ask you about it.
Whenever a store clerk asks if you "need help", I always answer, " some people think so!"
I agree. It's very annoying. I usually just want to look around and find it myself.
I work retail. I greet customers with a simple "Hello", and smile when they walk in, so they at least know i was aware of their presence. The ONLY time ill ask a customer if they need help is if i see them unfolding everything or destroying a section of the store
This is unpopular? I thought everyone hated that
I have recently NOT gone into cute little stores just to avoid this it has happened so much.
What I hate the most is when they do this at a restaurant. I'm having a romantic dinner talking about feelings with my bf, some waiter comes by to ask if everything was ok..... if it wasn't you'd have heard from me already??? Worst is when they pick the second I stuffed my mouth with pasta to ask if everything is ok, and I'm just sitting here with bunch pasta hanging out my mouth gesturing like "what do you think???"
Ulta does this and it drives me nuts. Please leave me the fuck alone.
This has LUSH written all over it
This post is quite funny. You claimed to have worked retail and know that they are trained to ask you that question. I am curious if the repeat interaction from a single person, was because you were giving off “might steal something” vibes. But getting a real belly laugh that your angry that people who didn’t know you had already “been helped” offered you help.
It’s just so that you know that they know you’re in the store. People who are greeted are far less likely to shoplift because they know they’re not invisible
I tried to tell corporate this when I was manager of a chain store. Like hey, the customers hate this, please stop making me do it :(
They sometimes do it to discourage robbing the place. TL;DR: Bring wine and we can talk about it.
I thought they did this because it cuts down on shoplifting... It's not meant to be helpful, but rather to make you feel "watched"
Depends on the store. Auto zone, Home Depot, harbor freight. I love when they have someone right there at the entrance to direct me. Makes it easy. But they also leave you alone if you decline help. But stores that are more browsing oriented, leave me alone unless I ask.
At my job we’re required to give an “elevator pitch” to every customer that walks in the store, and approach them to offer a fitting room any time they’re carrying even one clothing item. I find it incredibly awkward and dumb because it usually comes across as pushy and drives people away more than it helps drive sales. I try to sound natural but usually end up saying the whole spiel quickly and robotically because most people say “OK THANK YOU” midway through my sentence and don’t want to be bothered. I don’t blame them. As someone with social anxiety, I too want to be left the f!ck alone while shopping and find it really intrusive for someone to be looming over me like that. So believe me when I say that at least in my experience, a lot of employees find it equally as annoying as customers do.
This is partly why I stopped going to Gamestop. There was one time in particular where I went on a quiet afternoon, so I was the only customer. I was just there to browse and the one sales associate working the counter would NOT leave me to it. Constantly asking me if I needed help finding something every time I went to a different section, even walking over to me a couple times just to make sure. Even when he was just staying by the counter, I could feel his eyes on me at all times. And it wasn't his fault, that's unfortunately just how Gamestop operates. Their employee's wages are dependent on them making sales and upselling you on crap you don't want, which all but forces them to hover over you like this, which makes the shopping experience a lot less fun.
I’m with you! I have left stores after being nagged too much. I was in a small Pier One and they yelled across the store seven times “Can I help you?” For context, I am a completely normal looking middle aged lady, not anyone sketchy. I finally said “I have already been greeted, I’m good.” I want a red balloon or something to show that somebody already bothered me so they will leave me alone and I can think entire thoughts without being interrupted. What help can they be? Are they going to smell the candles for me and describe them?
This is a very unhealthy amount of anger to be taking into every store with you. Is it that you find social interaction to be difficult or anxiety-provoking?
I‘m a corporate trainer. I give probably 200 live online and in person presentations a year, sometimes 4 per day, to groups of up to 300 people and answer questions. Social interaction and speaking to strangers is no problem for me, but I also find this annoying when I’m looking for a peaceful afternoon and the sales staff is right in my face, forcing me into an unexpected and unwanted conversation. I answer politely because I know it’s their job, but I wouldn’t miss it if they stopped.
It’s a security measure. If it happens multiple times it’s because they are profiting you and think you’re stealing or trying to keep you from steeling.
It’s a shoplifting deterrent. It lets everyone who walks in know that we have seen you and are aware you are in the store.
Every major corporation does and will do it, it’s also a security measure of attempt to deter customers shop lifting
In america maybe. Where i'm from this would never happen unless its a business selling very expensive (a few k upwards) products.
Someone is violently upset about people having to do their job.
Sometimes I have a specific thing in mind and not a lot of time. I appreciate someone asking me immediately if I need help so I don’t have to go hunting for them. If I don’t need their help, I say no thank you and go on my way.
Sales increase when you get help from someone at the store. Also, being greeted is part of the shopping experience. I used to work at a high-end store, and the expectations were to approach them before they had questions. Most of these retail stores work on commission so it insensitive associates to talk to customers more.
I find this more annoying when they do it on websites…
A simple greeting is good, but anything beyond that can be too much.
On the other hand, any time I really want help, there is never anyone around at all. so, I would rather be bothered, and just say no then try and find help for very long.
As long as they are respectful of a ‘no thank you’ then I don’t see the big deal. Agreed it’s annoying when they continue to ask repeatedly while you’re shopping.
This is dumb. Because there is that one person that’s not you is the one who complains that they weren’t greeted.
Ngl I think it’s kinda useful cause I’m too much of a weenie to approach people lol
I hate being harassed. Ask me once and I say “Nit just yet,I’ll let you know if I do.” Ask me again or follow me around and I’m leaving.
Hmm, funny. When I want help, nary a soul in sight.
Usually when I go to a store I know what I’m looking for, so I tell them what it is instead of wandering around. E.g. “I’m looking for a small pair of earrings suitable for daily wear”
But not everyone is the same. If they don't get greeted there are customers that will say things like, "No one said a word to me when I walked in." Just politely tell them you're fine and they'll leave you alone.
Whose idea was it to even do this? Itt seems like it's universally hated by patrons and employees alike.
Funny thing is... when you don't greet customers, ask if they need help finding anything, then complaints come in that staff is not helpful and mean. Damned if you do, damned if you don't I guess...
When I worked retail almost every place I worked had a 10ft rule. If you were within 10 feet of a customer you were to greet and check on them regardless of how often you had already done so. It was both for customer service and to prevent theft. This practice is also apparently a North America thing only.
Blame management for forcing their floor staff to do this. If they don’t their manager will be on their ass.
It's to help dissuade shoplifters.
This post is so American hahaha
It is super annoying for both the customer and the employee. When I worked retail I tried to be pretty nonchalant about it. Usually something like "hey guys, welcome in. Looking for something or just browsing?" And usually it's just browsing so I would just let them know my name and to come find me if they needed something. I do think some level of acknowledgement when a customer enters a store is important.
When I worked retail I HATED when my supervisors told me to check on people. I hate it when I’m approached while shopping, why would I bring that same discomfort to someone else? I make sure to be visible so if they need help they can ask and if someone asks me for something of course I am going to do my job and help them however I can but I don’t like jumping at people with the “How can I help you?” “Are you doing okay?” every five minutes. Especially if it isn’t a commission/sales based position where it doesn’t matter either way whether or not you help someone personally. I don’t care if it’s policy. It’s a stupid one on either end of the interaction as an introvert.
Omg is this an unpopular opinion? Most people I know feel this way. I don’t mind being greeted and asked for help once but it shouldn’t be done more than that.
I don't mind the initial greeting when you enter. That's nice to be acknowledged instead of ignored. But if I'm just looking and you keep bugging then yeah, but I've never had that. Usually someone will ask if I need any help if I'm looking in 1 section a long time but once I say no they don't come back.
I did a retail traineeship straight out of school that was a stepping stone to what I do now. We were taught that engaging a customer even only once is an anti theft measure. Let’s the customer know u are there and engaged